Distance
Proximity should be earned
Approach angle, pace, eye contact, voice, reach, and retreat affect whether the cat can stay regulated.
Trauma-informed boarding approach
Distance, hiding, and refusal can be communication.
A shy, fearful, defensive, shutdown, or quickly activated cat needs care that distinguishes protective behavior from a fixed personality label.
Private roomProfile reviewRoutine continuityDaily observationEscalation plan
Current availability, rates, policies, and final care acceptance are managed by Cats in the City.
Start with baselineWhat is normal for this cat matters before the stay begins.
Plan the responseShare what should trigger contact, recheck, or veterinary escalation.
What changes the care plan
Boarding fit is built from function, not diagnosis alone.
Care matching considers handling risk, appetite, medication, room access, prior boarding response, and whether the team can safely provide essential care without repeated coercion.
Hiding
Cover can support observation
A usable hiding place is not the same as losing access to the cat. Setup should balance choice with necessary care visibility.
Recovery
What happens after contact matters
A cat who settles, eats, grooms, or explores after care differs from one whose functional range keeps shrinking.
Care boundary: This website provides boarding education and routing. It does not diagnose, prescribe, or replace veterinary care. Medical boarding acceptance depends on current stability, complete instructions, supplies, veterinary information, staffing, and the Cats in the City review.
Connected guidance
Keep learning without losing the care path.
These pages answer adjacent questions and route operational decisions back to Cats in the City.
Related guide
Decompression after arrival
Reduce avoidable demand.
Open guideRelated guide
First-time boarding
Prepare a lower-uncertainty first stay.
Open guideRelated guide
Nervous-system-aware boarding
The broader care philosophy.
Open guideQuestions guardians ask
Clear answers before the request.
Care fit is confirmed only after Cats in the City reviews the complete profile and requested dates.
Will my cat be handled anyway if they hide?
Essential care still has to occur, but the team uses room setup, pacing, observation, and the approved plan to reduce unnecessary forced contact.
Should I give a calming medication before arrival?
Use only a veterinarian-approved plan and share the exact timing, response, and any side effects.
What if medication cannot be given safely?
The team follows the agreed missed-dose and escalation plan. Some care profiles may require a different setting or method.
Next step
Let the care plan start with the cat.
Share the dates, routine, health history, appetite pattern, medication needs, and room priorities. Cats in the City will review the request and confirm the appropriate location and pathway.